Could The Addams Family’s Home Be From Central New York?
A spooky rumor from Central New York suggests that The Addams Family’s mansion might be inspired by a college building, and the evidence is intriguing. For years, people have speculated that Syracuse University’s Hall of Languages influenced the design of the creepy, kooky home of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, and Pugsley Addams.
Architectural Similarities
Designed in 1873 by Horatio Nelson White, the Hall of Languages features a Second Empire style with spooky towers, ornate windows, and an eerie charm that suits The Addams Family house perfectly.
Local Connections
According to syracuse.com, there is a direct link between the university and the show. Screenwriter Seaman Jacobs, who contributed to The Addams Family and other classic sitcoms, graduated from Syracuse University in 1932 and was involved in the campus humor magazine, The Orange Peel. One of his scripts from the 1964 show is preserved in the university’s special collections.
Supporting Claims
Author Victor Bockris added to the legend in his 1994 biography Transformer: The Lou Reed Story. He described the Hall of Languages as something resembling “a horror movie about college life” and mentioned that one of the show’s writers, who attended Syracuse around the same time as Lou Reed, may have drawn inspiration from it for the Addams’ mansion.
“The Hall of Languages looked like something straight out of a horror movie about college life.”
However, the specific writer was never named, and the connection remains unproven.
Summary
The eerie design and local ties make it plausible that Syracuse University’s Hall of Languages inspired The Addams Family’s iconic mansion, though definitive proof is lacking.
Author's summary: The Hall of Languages in Central New York is widely believed to have inspired The Addams Family’s mansion, supported by architectural style and connections with Syracuse alumni.